The infirmary was unusually quiet despite the number of patients lying in beds. The air felt thick with a heavy, uneasy tension. Vel leaned against the wall, arms crossed, while Shin stood beside him reviewing a short list of medical reports.
They both looked up as the doors swung open with a rush of wind and robes.
"Sister Arienne," Shin said, nodding respectfully.
The young sister looked pale and frantic, her eyes darting from bed to bed until they landed on two motionless figures draped in light blankets.
"I heard the sisters were rescued," she said, voice trembling. "Are they truly... here?"
"They are," Shin replied evenly. "But they're in no condition to talk. We found them in a hideout — they'd been taken and experimented on."
Arienne covered her mouth, horror washing over her face.
"Experimented on...? By who?"
"We don't know yet," Shin said. "We captured the kidnappers but not the one in charge. They were using... something unnatural. A green liquid of unknown origin. The doctors are doing what they can."
Before more could be said, the doors slammed open again.
Serina Vale stormed into the room, her crimson cloak billowing behind her, eyes burning like twin embers.
"Where is the Guild Master?" she snapped, scanning the room.
Vel raised a hand lazily. "Right here. Lower your voice, Serina. You'll scare the patients."
"I'm not here to play games, Vel." Her voice was low, dangerous. "One of my clan members was kidnapped. A rookie — barely a year into service. I heard he's here."
"He is," Vel replied, pushing off the wall with a sigh. "Come. Let's talk somewhere quieter."
He motioned for Shin, and the three of them headed into a nearby office room. As soon as the door closed behind them, Serina spun to face them.
"Tell me everything," she demanded.
Vel leaned on the edge of the desk. Shin summarized the mission — the hideout raid, the captives, the destroyed lab. Serina's expression shifted from anger to fury.
"I'll go there myself," she growled. "I'll burn what's left of that place and drag out whoever's responsible."
Vel raised a brow. "No need. I already took care of that. The base no longer exists."
Serina blinked. "You destroyed it?"
Shin muttered, rubbing his temples. "Nearly leveled the whole building."
Serina gritted her teeth. "Then what did you find? Who's behind this?"
"We're still figuring that out," Shin said. "We found a lot of documents. Darius's team is analyzing them. There's a chance they'll lead us to whoever orchestrated this."
"And the liquid?"
"A sample's already with Shuri," Vel replied. "She's examining it as we speak. Until we know more, there's not much else we can do."
Serina's eyes narrowed. "What about the kidnappers? Where are they?"
"In holding," Shin said firmly. "But I wouldn't recommend trying to interrogate them."
"Why not?"
Shin gave her a look. "Because if you unleash even a fraction of your mana, they'll burst into flame before you ask a single question."
Vel chuckled. "He's not wrong."
Serina exhaled, steam curling around her shoulders like a fire barely held in check. Then, after a long pause, she stepped forward and extended her hand toward Vel.
"Fine. But when the time comes, you'll call me. I want in."
"You'll be the first I call," Vel said, shaking her hand. Her grip was like iron, radiating heat.
Just as Shin sighed in relief, a soft knock came at the door. A young nurse peeked in.
"Um, excuse me… Vel-sama, Bella-sama is asking to see you."
Vel straightened immediately, his tone softening. "I'll be right there."
He turned to the others. "We'll talk more once we have results."
Serina gave a stiff nod, and Shin stayed behind, already dreading the paperwork.
Few moments earlier.
A soft hum filled the rebuilt lab, the glow of enchanted lamps casting warm light across clean tables and reassembled tools. The faint smell of herbs and alchemical reagents hung in the air, yet the heart of the room — Shuri — sat still, staring blankly at an open notebook.
Her hands rested in her lap. Her eyes were distant, red-rimmed as if she'd either just cried or hadn't slept in days.
The quiet creak of a door broke the silence.
"Shuri," came Shin's voice.
She didn't move.
"Shuri."
She flinched and blinked rapidly, finally looking up. "Ah—Shin… I'm sorry. I was… thinking."
He glanced around. The lab had been completely restored—spotless counters, lined flasks, neatly sorted crystals—but something in her demeanor was still fractured.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Shin said gently.
Shin's eyes softened. He reached into his coat and carefully brought out a glass vial, filled with an eerie, glowing green liquid. He held it out to her.
"There's something important I need you to look into."
Shuri hesitated before taking the vial. She held it up, watching how the strange liquid shimmered under the light.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Found it during a raid," Shin said. "A hidden lab, under a bandit base. They were injecting this into the captives. The victims were... unresponsive. Couldn't move or speak, but their eyes followed us. Like they were trapped in their own bodies."
Shuri's grip on the vial tightened. Her expression tensed.
"I can't," she said suddenly, placing the vial down and stepping back. "You should… you should give it to another researcher."
"You're the most capable person I know," Shin said firmly.
Shuri shook her head. "After that night — the raid on our lab — I can't take on another thing like this. People died, Shin. Because they were after that artifact."
"That wasn't your fault," Shin interrupted. "None of it was. We're doing everything we can to find the ones responsible. But this—" he motioned to the vial, "—this might be the key. If my hunch is right, this green liquid could be related to that black one we found months ago. They could both come from the same source. This might finally lead us to whoever's pulling the strings."
Shuri stared at the vial for a long time.
"What if something happens again?" she whispered.
"Then we pick up the pieces," Shin replied. "But you won't. Because you're not alone."
He stepped forward and took out a small wooden cage from his satchel. Inside fluttered a tiny green bird made — an elemental note bird.
"If anything happens, or if you need help, just send me a message," he said, opening the cage.
The bird immediately fluttered out and perched on Shuri's head with a soft chirp.
Despite herself, Shuri let out a small laugh.
"They're reliable," Shin said with a smirk. "Just like you."
She nodded slowly, her hand brushing the bird's feathers. "Alright… I'll help."
Shin turned to leave, pausing at the door. "Take care of yourself, Shuri. And thanks."
"Thank you, Shin," she said quietly.